Archives

ADC AUTHOR House lawmakers voted to raise the overall 2020 budget limit to $1.3 trillion Tuesday, allowing appropriators to begin work on spending bills, as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell later told reporters bipartisan budget talks are underway, Defense News reported.The House set a $733 billion top-line for national defense as part of a “deeming resolution” used to bypass a contentious Democratic debate on a related bill to lift 2020 and 2021 spending limits for defense and non-defense spending.Congressional Progressive Caucus members want more nondefense spending and plan to lobby House appropriators, but Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) downplayed their hopes Wednesday.“When they become chair of the Appropriations Committee, they can figure it out,” Lowey said.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he is involved in budget talks with President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to possibly raise the current two-year spending caps.McConnell said a “staff-level” working group has been created as part of a “bipartisan desire” to avoid another stopgap continuing resolution and $126 billion in automatic cuts.“I’m hoping that this will be the beginning of a bipartisan agreement,” McConnell said.Kentucky Air National Guard photo by Maj. Dale Greerread more

Cue Says Apple’s Ecosystem Is Expanding (L-R) The Mrs’ Mandy Prater, Andra Liemandt and Larissa Ness Daryl Hannah and Neil YoungPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images SXSW 2018 Inside The 2018 Texas Chapter Block Party At SXSW Email SXSW 2018: Keith Urban, Rapsody, K-Pop & More Facebook Daryl Hannah and Neil YoungPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images The Mrs Spread Kindness One Music Fest At A Time What 11 Artists Did At SXSW 2018 SXSW 2018: Keith Urban, Rapsody, K-Pop & More SXSW 2018: 7 New Bands To Check Out This Year MélatPhoto: Sasha Haagensen/WireImage.com SaweetiePhoto: Ismael Quintanilla/Getty Images Deva MahalPhoto: Xavier De Nauw The 7 Most-Shazam’d Women Performers At SXSW 2018 Sophie Allison of Soccer MommyPhoto Courtesy Fat Possum Records What Happens After A Reality TV Singing Show? Keith Urban Talks ‘Graffiti U,’ Julia Michaels & MusiCares | SXSW 2018 What Happens After A Reality TV Singing Show? Cue Says Apple’s Ecosystem Is Expanding Watch: Neil Young Teases Experimental New Western Austin’s 6th Street Comes Alive At SXSW The Mrs Spread Kindness One Music Fest At A Time SXSW: Keith Urban’s Kinetic Keynote Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage.com Austin’s South Congress Boasts Vintage Charm SXSW: Keith Urban’s Kinetic Keynote KardPhoto: TPG/Getty Images SXSW 2018: How Big Is The K-Pop Explosion? Blake LewisPhoto: Tara Ziemba/Getty Images The Mrs Spread Kindness One Music Fest At A Time Korea Spotlight Coming To SXSW 2018 (L-R) The Mrs’ Mandy Prater, Andra Liemandt and Larissa Ness Daryl Hannah and Neil YoungPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Deva MahalPhoto: Xavier De Nauw Inside The 2018 Texas Chapter Block Party At SXSW Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images SXSW 2018: 7 New Bands To Check Out This Year Austin’s Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street HyukohPhoto: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage See The Official FADER Fort Lineup At SXSW 2018 MélatPhoto: Sasha Haagensen/WireImage.com Getting The Latest Music News Just Got Easier. Introducing: GRAMMY Bot. Find it On KIK and Facebook MessengerRead more SXSW 2018: How Big Is The K-Pop Explosion? News MélatPhoto: Sasha Haagensen/WireImage.com The 7 Most-Shazam’d Women Performers At SXSW 2018 Korea Spotlight Coming To SXSW 2018 What Happens After A Reality TV Singing Show? Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images SXSW: Keith Urban’s Kinetic Keynote keith-urban-talks-graffiti-u-julia-michaels-musicares-sxsw-2018 Inside The 2018 Texas Chapter Block Party At SXSW DorothyPhoto: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Revisit 7 SXSW 2018 Highlights Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Eddy CuePhoto: Jason Bollenbacher/Getty Images Deva MahalPhoto: Xavier De Nauw SaweetiePhoto: Ismael Quintanilla/Getty Images Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Blake LewisPhoto: Tara Ziemba/Getty Images HyukohPhoto: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Blake LewisPhoto: Tara Ziemba/Getty Images Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage.com Austin’s South Congress Boasts Vintage Charm Revisit 7 SXSW 2018 Highlights Watch: Neil Young Teases Experimental New Western Prev Next See The Official FADER Fort Lineup At SXSW 2018 SXSW: Keith Urban’s Kinetic Keynote From his musical upbringing to his new album and sobriety, the GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter went deep during his keynote discussion at SXSW Renée FabianGRAMMYs Mar 16, 2018 – 5:06 pm As if SXSW 2018 doesn’t have enough cool stuff going on — the panels, the bands, the networking, the parties, the culture of Austin, Texas — one of this year’s keynote speaker sweetened the deal just a little bit more.GRAMMY winner Keith Urban took the stage in conversation with GRAMMY Museum Executive Director and “Required Listening” podcast host Scott Goldman on March 16. The duo covered a wide range of topics, including the singer/songwriter’s early music memories, how Ricky Skaggs influenced his career, the art of collaboration, memorable career advice, and why he’s a huge fan of MusiCares and Post Malone.The New Zealand native was quick to credit his drummer father for turning him onto his love of country. As a 5-year-old, Urban had the chance to see the legendary Johnny Cash in concert, which captured the young artist’s imagination.”What I remember from that concert is just how loud the crowd was,” Urban recalled. “I remember just the roar of everybody when this guy walked out on the stage and it’s never left me, and the power of when he played guitar and sang was an extraordinary thing.”By age 6, Urban was taking guitar lessons and learning from the country records spinning in his parents’ house as well as the local bands in his area. When he discovered the “chicken pickin'” style of guitar players such as Skaggs, the deal was sealed.Urban also discussed how his unique musicality stems from his affinity for collaborations. Not only has he recorded with other country artists but he’s also worked across many genres, including artists as diverse as the Rolling Stones, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, and many more.Indeed, his upcoming studio album, Graffiti U, will feature a collaboration with “Issues” singer/songwriter Julia Michaels, as well as borrowing a sample from country great Merle Haggard on another track.Julia Michaels Deconstructs “Issues,” Writing Songs | “Required Listening” PodcastFor his part, Urban feels collaborations keep his music fresh while also playing to his appreciation for all music genres and their creators, whether they are an EDM electronic-only musician or the classic instrumentalist.”I’m a big believer that it’s all still musicianship,” said Urban. “If you’re doing it on your MacBook Pro or you don’t play an instrument … they still have to compose these things like a painter putting paint together in a such a way that it creates a compelling image. That’s as valid to me as a guy sitting there playing guitar.”Urban further solidified his stance when asked by an audience member about his current favorite contemporary artist outside of country music.”Post Malone because he’s got his own thing, it’s insane,” Urban answered. “I don’t even know what it is. I don’t think he knows what it is, which is beautiful. It’s just an incredible fusion of things — singer/songwriter, hip-hop, R&B, soul. It’s just all out there and I love it.”His penchant for fusing genres and forging his own path as a singer/songwriter, while it looks effortless now, wasn’t always an asset to Urban. He recalled his early days playing shows around Nashville, Tenn., when a record label employee followed his band religiously, yet there was no indication the label wanted to sign him. When the guitarist finally asked why, the employee had some sage words of wisdom for the emerging artist.”You’re just really unique and it’ll be your biggest curse until it becomes greatest blessing,'” Urban recounted. “And as cheesy as that might sound … what I took from that was stay the course and it’s just going to take time.”With Goldman guiding the conversation, Urban went deeper on more personal topics, including his path to sobriety.”It’s such a personal thing, sobriety, for each person,” Urban said about his journey. “I wished I gotten sober many, many years before I did but it is what it is. I’m glad that I finally got here almost 12 years later. I think for me it’s made it possible to do the things I do.”Urban revealed that the Recording Academy-affiliated charity MusiCares was a driving force behind him getting help in the 1990s. The organization’s MAP Fund helped pay for his first rehabilitation treatment, which is part of the reason he has lent his support to not only MusiCares but other charitable causes throughout his career.To conclude the panel, audience members expressed their appreciation for Urban’s music, including fans from as far away as Canada, Brazil and France. For Urban, who will play a special showcase at SXSW at Stubb’s BBQ on March 16, it’s clear that his reach will continue to make waves in the music industry for years to come. Eddy CuePhoto: Jason Bollenbacher/Getty Images SXSW 2018: How Big Is The K-Pop Explosion? Twitter Watch: Neil Young Teases Experimental New Western Austin’s 6th Street Comes Alive At SXSW The 7 Most-Shazam’d Women Performers At SXSW 2018 What 11 Artists Did At SXSW 2018 Revisit 7 SXSW 2018 Highlights SXSW 2018: 7 New Bands To Check Out This Year Austin’s 6th Street Comes Alive At SXSW See The Official FADER Fort Lineup At SXSW 2018 (L-R) The Mrs’ Mandy Prater, Andra Liemandt and Larissa Ness Austin’s Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street DorothyPhoto: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Photo: Earl Gibson III/WireImage.com What 11 Artists Did At SXSW 2018 DorothyPhoto: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Cue Says Apple’s Ecosystem Is Expanding KardPhoto: TPG/Getty Images Austin’s Deep Cultural History On Rainey Street KardPhoto: TPG/Getty Images SaweetiePhoto: Ismael Quintanilla/Getty Images HyukohPhoto: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage Korea Spotlight Coming To SXSW 2018 Sophie Allison of Soccer MommyPhoto Courtesy Fat Possum Records Keith UrbanPhoto: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images Sophie Allison of Soccer MommyPhoto Courtesy Fat Possum Records Eddy CuePhoto: Jason Bollenbacher/Getty Images SXSW 2018: Keith Urban, Rapsody, K-Pop & More Austin’s South Congress Boasts Vintage Charmread more

2020 BMW M340i review: A dash of M makes everything better 2020 M5 Edition 35 Years is a dark gray homage to BMW’s performance sedan BMW 2020 Kia Telluride review: Kia’s new SUV has big style and bigger value Share your voice More about 2019 BMW M5 Competition Sedan Preview • 2019 BMW M5 Competition: Higher track IQ with tradeoffs 11 Photos 2020 Hyundai Palisade review: Posh enough to make Genesis jealous Tags BMW The BMW M5 sport sedan is now in its sixth generation. And though the current F90 model has arguably lost some of that lovin’ feeling we remember from prior generations (the E39 still makes us drool), it continues to be a hoot and a half behind the wheel, with tremendous power and supercar-stomping acceleration.To celebrate 35 years since BMW brought its M5 into the world, the company announced a new, limited-edition model on Thursday, appropriately called the Edition 35 Years. Only 350 of these special M5s will be offered globally, with just 35 earmarked for US consumption.The Edition 35 Years builds on the current, range-topping M5 Competition model, and wears BMW Individual gray paint, with “a special pigmentation to create the appearance of a silk matte surface finish.” New 20-inch wheels are also finished in gray, while the M5’s big brakes have gloss-black calipers. Inside, the Edition 35 Years gets gold-anodized aluminum trim on the center console, doors and instrument panel — which might sound gauche, but actually looks quite cool.Enlarge ImageThis gold-anodized aluminum trim is unique to the Edition 35 Years M5. BMW Under the hood, the M5 Competition’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces a healthy 617 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, able to scoot the all-wheel drive sedan to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. Every Edition 35 Years M5 comes fitted with the M Driver’s Package, which raises the electronic speed limiter from 155 mph to 189, and includes a voucher for the M Driver’s School in either Spartanburg, South Carolina, or Thermal, California.Otherwise, the Edition 35 Years is pretty much a fully loaded M5 Competition, complete with the Executive Package (soft-close doors, power sunshades, massaging front seats, wireless charging, driver-assistance tech and more) and a 10.2-inch display running BMW’s iDrive 7 multimedia system.The US-spec M5 Edition 35 Years cars will be produced in September and October of this year, priced from $128,995, including destination and the gas guzzler tax. That’s about $8,000 more than a similarly equipped, non-special-edition M5 Competition, but on the other hand, a small price to pay to own something this rare. 0 Performance Cars Luxury cars Sedans More From Roadshow nullread more

“Politics is likely to decide the course for the Indian rupee in 2019. The political heat is already rising as the elections being held in five states currently will set the tone for the national elections in May 2019,” the study quoted Prakash Sakpal, Asia economist at ING, as saying.The uncertainty shrouding Modi’s return to power in the general election next year will continue to put pressure on the rupee, Sakpal says. The nation is not yet out of the woods into which a chaotic currency demonetisation and haphazard implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) dragged “We expect it to be a too-close-to-call poll.”Reuters polled around 40 strategists between November 28 and December 4 and the majority agreed the rupee would weaken over 2 percent by the end of May 2019, just after the general election, to 72 against the dollar.The majority view was that the currency could regain some lost ground a year from now touching 71.62. But the rupee is likely to find it difficult to regain lost ground without the central bank’s support, the study says.”Despite the current relief for the INR, India remains vulnerable to domestic and external woes. Its weak external fundamentals leave it prone to another round of sell-offs,” the study quoted Amy Yuan Zhuang, chief Asia analyst at Nordea, as saying.”Moreover, a liquidity crunch in the financial system combined with excessive bad debts among banks diminishes confidence in Indian assets,” she added.’ The Indian rupee’s recent reprieve is unlikely to last, given the worsening domestic and international uncertainties, a study says.The current drop in international crude to below $60 a barrel has helped the rupee, the Reuters study based on a poll of economic experts says, warning that the oil’s surge could wipe out those gains.However, the looming twin blows of an Opec (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) production cut and the drop in oil inventories once US sanctions on Iran being to bite could harm the Indian currency.The receding threat of a disastrous trade war between the US and China following the 90-day truce between the two countries agreed upon on the sidelines of the G20 summit has helped most Asian currencies, the report says.But the rupee further weakened more than 1 percent on Monday, bucking the general trend. The Indian currency has been the worst performing major Asian currency this year, having lost nearly 10 percent against the dollar.Oil has been edging up again and it could put pressure on the Indian currency again. A lower than expected economic growth numbers in the July-September quarter has also been weighing on the currency marring the buoyancy expected after a global trade war threat has been kept in abeyance.The experts are of the view that the rupee is headed for one of the worst yearly performances despite a few advances. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses at the Indian Community Reception in Washington DC, USA, on June 25, 2017.Press Information Bureauread more

Traders are likely to be risk-averse in the first market session on Monday, February 4, as the stand-in finance minister Piyush Goyal presented feel-good interim budget 2019 provoked some edge-of-the-seat tension because of extreme market volatility.The markets should trade range bound, now that traders have priced in the feel-good factor the budget provided.The corporate world is right in the thick of an earnings season with some key market movers expected to announce their December quarter results during the week.The week is also expecting a key Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy meeting giving the markets cause to be cautious.The benchmark indices ended up on the day of the budget on Friday, after Goyal announced steps to boost consumer spending. However, the indices sharply slid off the day’s highs amid concerns over the confusing fiscal math.After rising 521 points (1.44 per cent) in intra-day trade, Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex ended just 213 points or 0.6 per cent higher at 36,778. The index’s upward momentum was helped by stocks in the automobile, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and realty sectors.National Stock Exchange (NSE) Nifty 50 swung wildly on Friday, February 1, as parliament’s budget session progressed. It hit a high of 10,983 and slumped to the red to touch a low of 10,813 points. Nifty 50 recovered marginally to end in the green closing at 10,893, marking a change of 63 points or 0.58 per cent.Banking stocks that account for a fourth of the index weightage fell sharply amid a spike in government bond yields that hit investor sentiment.Market observers attributed the early rally to the initial euphoria from the slew of announcements. Motilal Oswal, chairman and managing director of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said that announcements such as the cut in income tax should help corporate earnings growth.Friday’s gainers like Hero Moto Corp and Maruti Suzuki India that rose 7.5 per cent and 5 per cent respectively could consolidate their gains during the week, but traders could expect some profit-taking.The badly battered banking stocks including YES Bank, State Bank of India, and ICICI Bank may remain under further pressure, according to observers.Concerns over extra borrowing could haunt the market through the week as the massive election-year sops begin to weigh on the fiscal balance. However, the market could find traction in the hope of increased consumer spending from the Rs 75,000-crore outlay for farm sector relief and the rebate declared for middle-income earners by freeing incomes up to Rs 5 lakh from the income-tax.Central bank meetingThe RBI Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting later in the week assumes significance after the interim budget contains steps to boost consumption demand. If the central bank cuts repo rates and CRR to ease pressure on banks the market will react positively.EarningsCoal India (Buy Back), IDBI Bank, IRB Infrastructure, Indian Overseas Bank and Exide Industries will be announcing quarterly results on Monday (February 4).Tech Mahindra, GAIL, HPCL, ACC, BHEL, Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, IDFC First Bank, DLF, Apollo Tyres, Tata Global and Dish TV will be announcing their results on February 5.Lupin, Cipla, Siemens, Adani Ports, Adani Power, JSW Steel, and Allahabad Bank, will come out with quarterly results statements on February 6.February 7 will see the December quarter results of Tata Motors, Aurobindo Pharma, Britannia, Adani Enterprises, Coffee Day, Cadila Healthcare, and Arvind and Grasim.Mahindra & Mahindra, NHPC, BPCL, and Engineers India will come out with their results on February 8.FII activityForeign investors have turned net buyers and this will augur well for the market. FIIs have bought about Rs 1,300-crore worth of shares so far, according to reports.read more

Kolkata: Forensic experts have pointed out a short circuit in electrical equipment inside the fashion designing institute as the probable reason behind the fire that gutted an office in the multi-storeyed building situated on the 4th Floor of 60 A, Chowringhee Road near Exide Crossing on Friday morning. A portion of the roof of the building caved in due to the fire.”Prima facie, it appears that electrical short circuit has caused the fire. There were many electrical gadgets including computers inside the office of the institute. We have collected some samples and we will examine them for conclusive evidence,” said Wasim Raja, senior scientist of state forensic institute. Also Read – Rs 13,000 crore investment to provide 2 lakh jobs: MamataA senior forensic official present during the inspection said that it was difficult to collect samples as the debris of the collapsed roof is lying here and there in a precarious condition. Officials of the building department of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation inspected the site and labourers were roped in to clear the debris. “The process of clearing the debris is time-consuming. The labourers who are doing the work have to remain very careful as the building is very old and is prone to further damage. Our aim is to ensure that normal activities in the building resume as quickly as possible,” said local councillor Ashim Basu. Also Read – Lightning kills 8, injures 16 in stateThe state Fire and Emergency Services department on Saturday sent a notice to the owner of the building seeking a report on what measures he had put in place in terms of fire-fighting preparedness. Dipak Mukherjee, managing director of Mookherjee Estates Private Limited, a realty company, owns the building. Residents of two apartments in the building have shifted elsewhere and will return only after CESC restores the electric connection and KMC restores the water supply line that has been damaged. Meanwhile, a fire was reported from a mobile harbour crane at Haldia Dock at around 8.30 on Saturday morning. It soon spread to the 13 number berth. However, 10 fire tenders rushed to the spot and prevented the flames from spreading further.read more